Photo: NPS/Patrick Myers

← Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve · Camping

Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest

27 sites · $6 · Reservations · No RVs

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Reservations$6 / night

Reserve a site ↗Booking and payment are handled by Recreation.gov.

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27Sites

27Reservable

$6Per night

NoRVs

27 tent only24 horse27 walk-in / boat-in

Reservations

Reserve national park backpacking permits through recreation.gov in advance up to the first day of your trip. Camping in the national preserve requires a free permit from the visitor center only if you are starting your trip in the national park.

Fees

Backpacking Permit Fee Fee to make a required reservation for a backpacking permit through recreation.gov	$6.00

Amenities

Toilets · none
Showers · none
Drinking water · seasonal
Trash / recycling · none
Laundry · none
Camp store · none
Firewood for sale · none
Ice for sale · none
Food storage lockers · none
Dump station · none
Amphitheater · none
Camp host · none
Cell reception · year round
Internet · none

RVs, trailers & access

RVs	Not allowed
Trailers	Not allowed
RV notes	RVs and trailers may park at trailheads for backpacking, but visitors may not sleep in them at trailheads.
Roads	Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Type	Primitive Camping Areas
Campfires	Gas stoves only
Wheelchair	Dunes wheelchairs are available for free checkout from the visitor center, but require pushing through soft sand. It is beyond the average person's strength to push another adult over the first high ridge of dunes to camp in the backcountry. Backpacking sites in the foothills are not wheelchair accessible.
ADA	Backpacking into the dunefield and forested sites requires hiking or horsepacking over rough, uneven terrain, soft sand, and elevations over 8,200 feet. Weather can change quickly in the Rocky Mountains. There are no restroom facilities in the backcountry.
Cell	Cell phone service is limited. A few carriers can reach the national park if you have line-of-sight with Alamosa.
Internet	Closest internet is in Alamosa, 40 miles southwest

Getting there

11999 State Highway 150, Mosca, CO 81146

To access the main park area, including the Dunes Parking Lot and backpacking trailheads, take CO Highway 150 from the south or County Road 6 from the west. Both are paved highways.

Contact

719-378-6395 · grsa_interpretation@nps.gov

Other campgrounds in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites21 sites · Free · First come, first served · No RVs Piñon Flats91 sites · $20 · Reservations · RVs to 33 ft

About Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest

The most popular and unique backpacking option is camping in the 30-square-mile dunefield, beyond the major dune ridgeline (about 1.5 mile hike minimum over dunes). Enjoy wide open views of the starry sky or a bright moonlit night. Designated sites are also available in the trees of the foothills, or camping is available in higher forests of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. Reserve national park backpacking permits for the dunes or foothills through recreation.gov

Photos

Backpackers walking on eastern side of dunefield — Backpacking in the dunes is a unique experience, with open views of the sky. · Kevin Winget

Girl with backpack viewing dunes at sunset — Backpacking into the dunes is a unique experience, with open views of the sky. · NPS/Patrick Myers

Campsites

Site-by-site details (sizes, hookups, shade) for this campground are coming soon.

Conditions at camp

🌤️ Forecast

Wed, Nov 11

Tonight

27°F

Clear

Thu, Nov 12

Day

53°F

Sunny

Thu, Nov 12

Night

27°F

Mostly Clear

Fri, Nov 13

Day

50°F

Mostly Sunny

Fri, Nov 13

Night

29°F

Mostly Cloudy

Sat, Nov 14

Day

46°F

Slight Chance T-storms

Sat, Nov 14

Night

27°F

Slight Chance T-storms

Sun, Nov 15

Day

46°F

Mostly Sunny

Source: National Weather Service (weather.gov)

🔥 Wildfires nearby

Aspen Acres: 102,003 ac, 96% contained

Source: National Interagency Fire Center (WFIGS)

🗓️ Typical weather

Spring can sometimes bring high winds, mainly in the afternoon. Temperatures may vary widely: highs may reach into the 70s F, or only into the 30s F with snow and an even colder wind chill. In summer, daytime high temperatures average 75-80 degrees F. However, sand surface temperatures can soar to 150 degrees F on sunny summer afternoons. Fall is generally mild, with Indian summer days. Highs average in the 60s - 70s F, with chilly nights in the 20s - 30s F. Frigid temperatures are the norm in winter.

Rules

- Maximum of six people per party/ group at all times - Gas stoves only; no campfires or wood burning stoves allowed - Dogs are not permitted in the dunes backcountry. Please visit our Pets web page for detailed information and maps of permitted pet areas. - Bears rarely visit the interior of the dunefield. Bear-proof containers are encouraged, but not required. - - - - Sand stakes are encouraged as most standard tent stakes do not work on the sand dunes. Plastic bags filled with sand can also help anchor your tent. - Plan to camp in the dunes only when weather is calm and clear to avoid blowing sand or dangerous thunderstorms with lightning; check the park weather forecast on our Weather webpage.

Trails near camp

🥾 Sand Pit Trail 0.5 mi
🥾 Trail to Escape Dunes Backcountry Campsite 0.1 mi
🥾 Trail to Indian Grove Backcountry Campsite 0.4 mi
🥾 Trail to Sawmill Canyon Accessible Campsite 0.1 mi
🥾 Dunes Access from Campground Trail 0.4 mi
🥾 Dunes Overlook Trail 0.5 mi
🥾 Dunes Parking Lot to Campground Trail 0.5 mi
🥾 Trail to Little Medano Creek Backcountry Campsite 0.1 mi
🥾 Sand Ramp Trail 11.4 mi
🥾 Dunes Access from Visitor Center Trail 0.4 mi
🥾 Interpretive Loop Trail 0.4 mi
🥾 Montville Nature Loop Trail 0.4 mi

Campground information from the National Park Service. Confirm current status with the park before you go.